Probably Not Effective Treatments

Originally, the term attention deficit disorder (ADD) referred to children who were incapable of concentrating at school. Hyperkinesia was used somewhat synonymously, as a descriptive term for children who simply couldn’t sit still. Today, the definition has broadened to include many adults, and has been refined into two conditions: ADD and ADHD (attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder). Characteristics include difficulty sustaining attention or completing tasks, easy distractibility, impulsive behavior, and, in the case of ADHD, an excessive inclination to fidget and move about. These problems make it difficult to succeed at work or at school.

Conventional treatment focuses on stimulants, such as amphetamine, dextroamphetamine, and methylphenidate (Ritalin, Concerta), as well as the newer drug atomoxetine (Strattera). Certain antidepressants may also be useful.

Proposed Natural Treatments

DMAE

There is some evidence that the supplement DMAE (2-Dimethylaminoethanol) may be helpful for ADD, according to studies performed in the 1970s. Two such studies were reported in a review article.
1
Fifty children aged 6 to 12 years who had been diagnosed with hyperkinesia participated in a
double-blind study
comparing DMAE to
placebo
. The dose was increased from 300 mg daily to 500 mg daily by the third week and continued for 10 weeks. Evaluations revealed statistically significant test score improvements in the treatment group compared to the placebo group.

Another double-blind study compared DMAE with both Ritalin and placebo in 74 children with "learning disabilities."
1
(It appears that today, the participants would have been given a diagnosis of ADD). The study found significant test score improvement for both treatment groups over a 10-week period.

For more information, including dosage and safety issues, see the full
DMAE
article.

Zinc

The mineral zinc has shown some promise for treatment of ADHD. In a large double-blind, placebo-controlled study (approximately 400 participants), use of zinc at a dose of 35 mg daily produced statistically significant benefits as compared to placebo.
26
This dose of zinc is higher than nutritional needs, but not so high as to be unsafe. However, the benefits seen were quite modest: about 28% of the participants given zinc showed improvement, but so did 20% in the placebo group.

For more information, including dosage and safety issues, see the full
Zinc
article.

Essential Fatty Acids

Essential fatty acids (EFAs) are "good fats," substances as important to your general health as vitamins. Based on evidence that essential fatty acids are necessary for the proper development of brain function in growing children, EFAs found in
fish oil
and
evening primrose oil
have been tried for the treatment of ADHD and related conditions. The results have been mixed, though.

A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of 75 children with ADHD found that daily supplementation with omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids may reduce ADHD symptoms in some children.
37
However, in a similarly designed study of 50 such children , use of essential fatty acids from fish oil and evening primrose oil failed to provide any consistent, significant benefit above and beyond the placebo effect.
29
And, in a slightly smaller trial, weak evidence of benefit was seen. But, the results are difficult to interpret due to the high number of people who dropped out.
3
In a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of children already using stimulant therapy, the addition of the essential fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, found in fish oil) for 4 months failed to further improve symptoms.
20
A systematic review produced more promising results, though. In the review, 10 randomized trials involving 699 children with ADHD found that those who took omega-3 fatty acids experienced modest improvements in certain symptoms like inattentiveness and hyperactivity.
38

Evening primrose oil alone failed to prove effective for attention deficit disorder in a small double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
21
In a placebo-controlled, comparative trial, evening primrose oil proved less effective than standard medical treatment.
22
However, a close look at the data in this last trial hinted that evening primrose oil might have been more effective in people with adequate zinc levels.
28
This suggests that combination therapy with zinc and evening primrose oil should be tested, but, thus far, this approach has not undergone meaningful study.

Other Natural Treatments

A small, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial evaluated the possible efficacy of the supplement carnitine for ADD in boys 13 and younger.
23
Approximately 50% of the participants responded to
carnitine
, a significantly higher percentage than responded to placebo. These promising results suggest that a larger trial is warranted.

One study is sometimes said to have proven
magnesium
helpful for ADD,
24
but, in fact, the study design was too inadequate to prove much of anything.

Other supplements that are sometimes recommended for ADD include
calcium
,
iron
,
inositol
, trace minerals,
blue-green algae, combinations of amino acids (usually GABA, glycine,
taurine
,
L-glutamine
,
L-phenylalanine
, and
L-tyrosine
), and combinations of the polysaccharides galactose, glucose, mannose, N-acetylneuraminic acid, fucose, N-acetylgalactosamine, N-acetylglucosamine, and xylose.
St. John's wort
has also become popular recently, but unlike depression, there is no convincing evidence for its effectiveness against ADD.
36Note
:
St. John's Wort interacts with many medications and could conceivably impair the effectiveness of conventional treatments for ADD.

It is commonly said that, sugar, food allergens, and food additives, such as artificial colors, contribute to ADD symptoms. However, the body of published evidence regarding these therapies remains incomplete and contradictory.
5-19,31,35
The best evidence regards artificial colors and food additives.
In a 2012 review of 35 controlled trials, researchers focused on the possible effects that artificial food coloring may have on ADHD symptoms.
39
A sub-analysis of 6 trials involving 195 children with ADHD found that restricting these dyes resulted in an improvement in symptoms. A larger sub-analysis of 20 trials and 794 children provided further evidence by showing that children experienced a worsening of symptoms when they returned to their normal diet after following a restriction diet. However, most of these improvements were not observed when the analysis was narrowed to include only FDA-approved food additives. The researchers estimated that about 8% of children may experience worsening ADHD symptoms when exposed to artificial food coloring.

A double-blind study reported in 2005 failed to find benefits for ADD with a treatment known as
Bach flower remedies
.
32

One study found that the supplement
melatonin
may be helpful for improving sleep in children with ADHD taking stimulant medications.
33
However, melatonin does
not
appear to be helpful for ADHD symptoms per se.
34

Suntheanine, a supplement that contains a compound of black tea, showed some promise in improving sleep quality in boys with ADHD.
40

Revision Information

This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.